Spiral casing for hydraulic turbines and the like



March 1927' M. HAEBERLEIN SPIRAL CASING FOR HYDRAULIC TURBINES AND THELIKE Filed July 9. 1925 ablom rCk. w

Patented Mar. 22, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAX HAEBERLEIN, OF MAPLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WORTHINGTON PUMPAND MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF NEI/V YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF VIE-GINIA.

SPIRAL oAsrne non HYDRAULIC Ton-nines Ann was LIKE.

Application filed July 9, 1925. serial No. 42,349.

This invention relates to improvements in spiral casings for hydraulicturbines and the like.

The invention aims particularly to provide an improved spiral casingconstruction for hydraulic turbines which shall be comparatively cheapto manufacture, strong and durable. The improved casing consists of aplurality of tubular members formed of sheet or plate metal arranged tobe 'conr bined with a small section of the volute preferably cast in onepiece and including, in addition to the nozzle and a section of thestationary vane ring with one or more of the vanes, means for enablingthe supply pipe to be secured thereto for delivery to the volute inlet.The tubular members formed as above stated preferably are abutted andwelded together, and this feature, in connection with a sectional vanering to which the tubular members may be secured in any suitable way,enables the easing to be made up in the shop in sections which may bequickly joined together in the field. The welding of the joints betweenthe tubular members results in a volute or spiral casing having arelatively smooth interior, with" consequent large reduction in waterfriction as compared with casings in which sheet or plate metal tubularmembers are joined together by rivets or lap joints. It also permits asubstantial reduction in the general size of the casing as compared withprior casings of the types referred to with riveted or lap joints andreduction in weight and cost as compared with cast iron or steel casingsas heretofore constructed. Other novel features of the invention notspecifically referred to above will be hereafter fully described.

To enable the invention to be fully understood, a detailed descriptionthereof will now be given in connection with the accompanying drawings,which illustrate an embodiment of the invention in a preferred form,

and the features forming the invention will then be specifically pointedout in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved casing,partially in section, and looking in the direction of the turbine axis;

Figures 2 and 3 are, respectively, sections on the lines 22 and 3-3 ofFig. 1, and

Figure 1 is a plan view of the casting forming the small section of theimproved casing.

Referring now to the drawings, and par ticularly to Fig. 1, the spiralcasing is shown as made up of four sections indicated generally bythenumerals 10, 11, 12 and 13. The first three of these sections, 10, 11and 12, when made in accordance with the present arrangement, may, ifdesired, be preformed in the shop, so that they may be placed end to endin the field and readily secured together by rivets or otherwise. Itwill be understood, however, that this is not essential, and that agreater or less number of such sections, preformed in the shop orotherwise made up, may be used. In the preferred embodiment of theinvention shown, the sections 10, 11 and 12 are each made up of aplurality of tubular members 15, which may be advantageously formed ofsheet or plate metal. The tubular members are shown as formed onstraight lines in the direction of flow, as common in such casings, buttheir walls may be formed on the proper spiral curvature of the spiralcasing so far as the present invention is concerned. It will beunderstood, also, that any desired number of such tubular sections maybe provided to form the sections to 12. The small section, 18,hereinafter more fully described, consists of a casting having formedintegrally therewith all the parts necessary to eo-operate with the restof the structure, and particularly the sections 10 and 12, to form aspiral such as shown in Fig. 1. The vane ring15 preferably is pro videdwith flanges 16 on both sides to which the edges of the tubular members1 5 of the sections 10, 11 and 12 may be secured by rivets or otherwise.This vane ring, for convenience in manufacture and assembling of thecasing parts, is preferably divided into a plurality of sectionscorresponding in number to the sections 10, 11 and. 12 of the casing andwith the joints of such ring radially in line with the joints of thecasing sections. Each of the ring sections is shown as having two of thestationary vanes formed integrally therewith, although this is notessential. The remaining section of the ring is formed integrally withthe cast section 13. In order that the tubular members 1-5 of each ofthe sections 10, 11 and 12 may be joined together in a strong anddurable manner without the use of rivets, so as to secure a considerablereduction in water friction and permit a general reduction in the sizeof the casing as compared with sectional casings ha ing lap or rivetedjoints between the tubular membe s, the ends of such members in thepresent casing are abutted and welded together in any well known manner.

One of such welded joints is indicated at 6 in section 11. In additionto the advantages above stated, this enables the sections 10, 11 and isto be preformed in the shop and packed with economy of space in shipmentand convc iencc in handling in the held. or theniafrimum strength, thejoints be tween the tuluilar members 1 of each of the sections should bewelded both ins side and outside, altl'lough an oiiit-side weld besecured together by bolts or otherwise.

One or more stationary vanes, as 20, in addition to the nozzle 18, maybe formed integrally with this cast section, if desired.

While the structure thus far described vill be found strong and durablefor turbines of various sizes, and especially the smaller sizes, andwill provide a construction which may be conveniently made up insections for assembly in the field, in addition to the other advantagesreferred to above as to reduction in size and elimination to aconsiderable extent oil? water friction, it may be found desirableincasings for the larger or turbines to form the tubular members, or someof them. in two parts. For convenience in manufacture, the line ofdivision between such parts preferably longitudinal with respect to themember and in a central plane in radial alinement with the axis of suchmember in its position of use, as indicated, for example, at a, Fig. 2.This two-part formation of the tubular members may, of course, befollowed as to all of such members and in large as well as in smallturbines. In the smaller size turbines, however, it may be founddesirable to thus divide the larger tubular members only. By thusdividing the tubular members they nay be readily'manufactured in anywell known manner at a comparatively small cost, and the plates thusformed may be nested together for economy of space in shipment.

At the point of installation of the turbine these member parts may beoined together at their circular joints as above descrlbed,

while the longitudinal joint may be completed by a band or butt-strapand rivets, as indicated, for instance, at b, Fig. 2. This method ofjoining the longitudinal joints is preferable from the standpoint ofstrength and durability, as the stresses on such joints are much largerthan those carried by the circular oints.

While the spiral casing or volute shown has been described as especiallysuitable for hydraulic turbines, it will be understood ti at casingssimilarly constructed may be used with advantage in other apparatus,such, for example, as blowers. It will be understood, also, that variouschanges in the form and arrangement of the parts shown and described maybe made while still retaining the invention defined by the claims.

ll hat is claimed is:

1. The combination with a spiral casing for hydraulic turbines and thelike formed of a plurality of tubular plate metal members having theiradjacent ends abutted and welded together, of a vane ring to which saidtubular member is secured, and a cast section including a nozzle at theend of the spiral, said cast section including a section of the vanering and having flanges arranged to cooperate with an inlet pipe forsecuring the latter to said casing.

2. The combination with a casing for hydraulic turbines and the likeformed of a plurality of oined tubular plate metal members arranged inthe form of a volute, of a sectional vane ring to which said tubularmembers are secured, and a cast section at the end of the volute, saidcast section in cluding a nozzle and at least one of the vanes of saidvane ring.

3. The combination with a casing for bydraulic turbines and the likeformed of a plurality of pie-formed sections, said sections being madeup of a plurality of tubular members having their adjacent ends abuttedand secured together by a welded joint and said pre-formed sectionsbeing arranged to be joined together in the form of a volute, of vanering sections to which said volute sections are secured, stationaryvanes carried by the vane ring sections, and a cast section including asection of the vane ring arranged to be joined to the inner end of thevolute.

e. The combination with a casing for hydraulic turbines and the likeformed of a plurality of tubular plate metal members having theiradjacent ends abutted and joined together by a welded joint, of a castsection including a nozzle and a stationary vane, vane ring sections towhich the tubular members are secured, and flanges on the cast sectionarranged to co-0perate with an inlet pipe for securing the latter to thecasing.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set In hand.

y MAX HAEBERLEIN.

Ill)

